The Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association (CMRA) kicked off its season opener at MSR Houston this past weekend, February 17-19. The 2.38 mile, 17-turn track is a once-a-season venue that never fails to attract a large audience, and this event was no exception. The advertised 70 degree F weather and bright sun, not to mention some of the fastest names in club level racing, conspired to draw one of the largest crowds of spectators in recent memory.

The weather might have been perfect on Sunday however Mother Nature had a lot to make up for after Saturday’s debacle. Weather forecasters everywhere cackled with glee as “scattered thunderstorms” did their best to wash the crowd of die hard racers into the Gulf. The rains came on Friday afternoon and drizzle lasted most of the night and into the morning, accompanied by a bit of lightning in the area. Mini sprints took to the track after the lightning cleared out, but the rain still did not relent, and during the morning hours, it was often difficult to see the Mini-sprinters through the mist and rain, but still the racers soldiered on. Perhaps most notable of the Mini sprint races was the E Superstock race where new racer William Renville on his Ninja 250 edged out veteran and defending E Superstock champion, Alan Phillips, also Ninja 250-mounted, by a mere 0.008 seconds. Shortly after 11 a.m., 11 Mini Endurance teams would brave the deluge for two heart stopping hours, but only one would emerge victorious: Supafly Racing (Ryan Warren, Eric Williams) beat out second place Davis Rod and Cycle (Jesse Davis, Ryan Andrews) by nanoseconds.

As if taunting the now soaking wet Mini Endurance teams, the sun briefly peeked out from behind the clouds as the pocket-sized wonders buzzed back to their pits after the completion of their race. In fact, the sun stayed out for about 20 minutes, but ducked back out of sight shortly after the 4 Hour Big Bike Endurance field thundered down the front straight on lap one. Almost from the start, Team SCRaceCenter.com KTM Racing (Ty Howard, Ryan Andrews, Bryan West) assumed command of the race as Team Owner John Hutchinson seemingly had an endless bag of tricks – and tires – up his sleeves to deal with the intermittent rain and mist that randomly steam rolled the rest of the field, and then really got ugly in the last hour of the race. Team SCRaceCenter.com KTM Racing managed to complete 111 laps, 6 laps ahead of 2nd place, Team EDS (Michael Humphries, Alan Phillips, Shane Zelm, Scott Eichhorn, Darrell Ricks). Team Penetration (Nathaniel Orona, Joseph McCamish, Mark Delano) rounded out the podium. Notable guest stars, TOBC Racing was there too, with East Coast WERA regulars Jon Couch, Russell Masecar, Brian Kcraget and Darrell Emerson all traveling down to Texas from Virginia and Maryland to race with the CMRA. TOBC ended up 10th overall and 4th in class.

Saturday’s mayhem faded to black as 35 mph wind gusts blew the track dry (and blew canopies to hell-and-gone later that night). The wind, however, also blew in some good luck (and great weather) for racers, both young and old on Sunday. CMRA favorite Ty Howard would capture wins in the Formula 1, Raceworx A Superstock, A Superbike and Heavyweight Twins Expert races, and Howard would also set the fastest time of the weekend, a blistering 1:34:869. Also taking home multiple wins was Darrell “The Ragin’ Cajin'” Ricks in the Formula 2, Modern Classic, and Classic events. Howard and Ricks’s wins were no small feat given the level of competition at this particular event. Shea Fouchek, Brandon Cleland, Dustin Dominguez and defending CMRA #1 plate holder, Danny Kelsey, all put on excellent performances on the weekend and finished at or near the top of the podium in their races.

Also in attendance was Utah resident and veteran rock star racer Shane Turpin, who made an appearance on behalf of Boulder Motor Sports. Turpin learned the track quickly and turned in a terrific performance on the Team’s Ducati 1198R, and managed to win Formula 40 Heavyweight. Also making a sizable journey to race the CMRA’s opening event were several of Mexico’s finest racers, including Dirk Sanchez and Yahir Sanchez, each of whom turned in very good performances in their respective classes.

Several rookie Experts managed stellar performances for the packed house of spectators. Youngster Eric Williams managed to win the Rookie Expert Lightweight race from the back of the pack, where he started when his newly painted machine failed to start at the third (and final) call to the grid. (Incidentally, Williams also rode like an endurance champ in the rain the day before with Team Supafly, as well as team Lone Star Track Days.) Mark Windham similarly turned in outstanding performances on the weekend, finishing high in the talent-laden ranks on his Yamaha R6 in every race. Also worth mentioning is the always classy youngster Hayden Schultz, who took a scary tumble when he came together with Yahir Sanchez while entering the fast front straight. Schultz was okay but thankful for the Airfence. Sanchez would go on to win the Rookie Expert Heavyweight event.

In the Novice division, several racers turned in spectacular performances over the weekend. AJ Flores rode like, well, an Expert. In fact, AJ dominated all four 600 events that he entered (Moto Liberty C Superstock, B Superbike, House of Pain Designs C Superbike, and Lone Star Track Days B Superstock). Likewise, Will Zamora pulled a hat trick on his Yamaha R1, winning all three liter bike races he entered. A fourth Novice racer, Fabian Kale, who rides a stock Honda CBR600RR, finished on or near the podium in all four of his races, with a day’s best finish of 2nd in the Formula 40 race. Any of these three racers will be a threat to win during the course of the season, but overall, the smart money is on the red and black stocker.

So the weather played an important role in the first race of the CMRA’s 2012 season, and racers left hoping that none such nonsense would have to be worried about when the CMRA’s second event of its 9-race season is hosted on March 23-25 at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas. Lone Star Track Days (www.lstd.com) will host the CMRA License School, racer practice and track day on Friday. Saturday’s schedule consists of a 6-Hour Big Bike Endurance and slew of Mini Sprint races. Sunday’s festivities include a full schedule of Big Bike Sprint races. Adult weekend admission is $15.00 on Friday or Saturday, and just $10 on Sunday. Kids 12 and younger are free. Spectators on Saturday or Sunday arriving on motorcycles pay only $5.00 per person, but remember, no pets (or loose children) are allowed at CMRA events. For additional information please visit our website at www.CMRAracing.com.

RESULTS:

FORMULA 1 EXPERT: 1. Ty Howard (KTM RC8); 2. Danny Kelsey (Suz GSX-R1000); 3. Brandon Cleland (Suz GSX-R1000); 4. Carlos Lescale (Kaw ZX-10R); 5. William Guthrie (BMW S1000RR); 6. Shane Turpin (Duc 1198R).

FORMULA 1 NOVICE: 1. Will Zamora (Yam YZF-R1); 2. Bobby Davies (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Tony Nguyen (Suz GSX-R1000); 4. Dolph McVicker (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Eric K. Johnson (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Art Fonseca (Suz GSX-R750).

RACEWORX A SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Ty Howard (KTM RC8); 2. Brandon Cleland (Suz GSX-R1000); 3. Brandt Dillon (Suz GSX-R1000); 4. Danny Kelsey (Suz GSX-R750); 5. Carlos Lescale (Kaw ZX-10R); 6. William Guthrie (BMW S1000RR).

ONROAD OFFROAD SUSPENSION A SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. Will Zamora (Yam YZF-R1); 2. Tony Nguyen (Suz GSX-R1000); 3. Bobby Davies (Yam YZF-R1); 4. Dolph McVicker (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Art Fonseca (Suz GSX-R750); 6. John Fitzsimmons (Suz GSX-R1000).

B SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Dustin Dominiguez (Tri Day 675R); 2. Danny Kelsey (Suz GSX-R750); 3. Derek Wagnon (Duc 848); 4. Shea Fouchek (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Conner Blevins (Kaw ZX-6R); 6. Blake Cochran (Yam YZF-R6).

LONE STAR TRACK DAYS B SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. AJ Flores (Suz GSX-R600); 2. Mike James (Kaw ZX-6R); 3. Fabian Kale (Hon CBR600RR); 4. Eric K. Johnson (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Robert DaSilva (Kaw ZX-6R); 6. Art Fonseca (Suz GSX-R750).

SOUTH CENTRAL RACE CENTER C SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Shea Fouchek (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Conner Blevins (Kaw ZX-6R); 3. Blake Cochran (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Alonzo Contreras (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Yahir Sanchez (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Garet Tomlinson (Yam YZF-R6).

MOTO LIBERTY C SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. AJ Flores (Suz GSX-R600); 2. Mike James (Kaw ZX-6R); 3. Eric K. Johnson (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Fabian Kale (Hon CBR600RR); 5. Dolph McVicker (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Bobby Davies (Yam YZF-R6).

D SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Austin Gore (Suz SV650); 2. Daniel Adams (Suz SV650); 3. Mike Canzoneri (Suz SV650); 4. Andrew Sukach (Suz SV650); 5. David Tipton (KTM 690); 6. Ryan Max Johnson (Suz SV650).

ONROAD OFFROAD SUSPENSION D SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. Andy Gilliland (Suz SV650); 2. Blake Loehr (Suz SV650); 3. Steve Wilson (Suz SV650); 4. Juan DeHoyos (Suz SV650); 5. Frank Rodriguez (Suz SV650); 6. Drake Duncan (Hon CRF450).

E SUPERSTOCK: 1. William Renville (Kaw EX250); 2. Alan Phillips (Kaw EX250); 3. Ryan Andrews (Hon CBR250R); 4. Jay Newton (Hon CBR250R); 5. Kyle Diffley (Kaw EX250); 6. Brandon Altmeyer (Kaw EX250).

A SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Ty Howard (KTM RC8); 2. Danny Kelsey (Suz GSX-R750); 3. Carlos Lescale (Kaw ZX-10R); 4. Shane Turpin (Duc 1198R); 5. William Guthrie (BMW S1000RR); 6. Landon Talley (Suz GSX-R1000).

A SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. Will Zamora (Yam YZF-R1); 2. AJ Flores (Suz GSX-R600); 3. Mike James (Kaw ZX-6R); 4. Tony Nguyen (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Robert DaSilva (Kaw ZX-6R); 6. Jeremiah Walker (Kaw ZX-10R).

B SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Danny Kelsey (Suz GSX-R750); 2. Dustin Dominguez (Tri Day 675R); 3. Derek Wagnon (Duc 848); 4. Conner Blevins (Kaw ZX-6R); 5. Shea Fouchek (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Blake Cochran (Yam YZF-R6).

B SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. AJ Flores (Suz GSX-R600); 2. Eric K. Johnson (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Tim Rose (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Fabian Kale (Hon CBR600RR); 5. Enoc Garza (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Raymond Van Antwerp (Yam YZF-R6).

ISLAND RACING SERVICES C SUPEBIKE EXPERT: 1. Dustin Dominguez (Tri Day 675R); 2. Shea Fouchek (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Derek Wagnon (Duc 848); 4. Ryan Andrews (Pierobon X60R); 5. Conner Blevins (Kaw ZX-6R); 6. Blake Cochran (Yam YZF-R6).

HOUSE OF PAINT DESIGNS C SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. AJ Flores (Suz GSX-R600); 2. Mike James (Kaw ZX-6R); 3. Bobby Davies (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Eric K. Johnson (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Dolph McVicker (Yam YZF-R6); 6) Fabian Kale (Hon CBR600RR).

D SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Austin Gore (Suz SV650); 2) Darrell Ricks (Suz SV650); 3) Daniel Adams (Suz SV650); 4) Christopher Romeo (Suz SV650); 5) Eric Williams (Suz SV650); 6) Shawn Adams (Suz SV650).

FASTLINE MOTORCYCLE SCHOOL D SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. Andy Gilliland (Suz SV650); 2. Blake Loehr (Suz SV650); 3. Patrick Kelly (Suz GSX-R600); 4. Juan DeHoyos (Suz SV650); 5. Drake Duncan (Hon CRF450 ); 6. Dylan Holman (Suz SV650).

HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS EXPERT: 1. Ty Howard (KTM RC8); 2. Derek Wagon (Duc 848); 3. Ryan Andrews (Pierobon X60R); 4. Carl Price (Duc 848); 5. Andrew Sukach (Suz SV650); 6. Ryan Warren (Tri Day 675R).

HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS NOVICE: 1. Benjamin Gooding (Duc 749S); 2. Billy Hinojosa (Duc 1098); 3. Gregory Thomas (TriDay 675); 4. Jim Dugger (Buell 1125R); 5. Joe Rodriguez (KTM RC8); 6. Britten Geary (Suz SV650).

LIGHTWEIGHT TWINS EXPERT: 1. Austin Gore (Suz SV650); 2. Daniel Adams (Suz SV650); 3. Darrell Ricks (Suz SV650); 4. Eric Williams (Suz SV650); 5. Christopher Romeo (Suz SV650); 6. Russell Masecar (Suz SV650).

LIGHTWEIGHT TWINS NOVICE: 1. Andy Gilliland (Suz SV650); 2. Blake Loehr (Suz SV650); 3. Steve Wilson (Suz SV650); 4. Drake Duncan (Hon CRF450); 5. Dylan Holman (Suz SV650); 6. Ben Jones (Suz SV650).

125 GRAND PRIX: 1. Rober Duong (Mori MD250); 2. Mark Kelpper (Apr RSW125); 3. Rodney Scott Barkalow (Hon RS125).

FORMULA 2 EXPERT: 1. Darrell Ricks (Suz SV650); 2. Christopher Romeo (Suz SV650); 3. Daniel Adams (Suz SV650); 4. Austin Gore (Suz SV650); 5. Eric Williams (Suz SV650); 6. Alan Phillips (Suz SV650).

ROAD & TRACK SUSPENSION FORMULA 2 NOVICE: 1. Andy Gilliland (Suz SV650); 2. Patrick Kelly (Suz GSX-R600); 3. Dylan Holman (Suz SV650); 4. Frank Rodriguez (Suz SV650); 5. Ben Jones (Suz SV650); 6. Blake Loehr (Suz SV650).

FORMULA 40 HEAVYWEIGHT EXPERT: 1. Shane Turpin (Duc 1198R); 2. Ron Mears (Hon CBR600RR); 3. John Deuser (Suz GSX-R750); 4. John Orchard (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Guillermo A. Gonzalez (Yam YZF-R1); 6. Brian Carter (Yam YZF-R1).

FORMULA 40 HEAVYWEIGHT NOVICE: 1. Eric K. Johnson (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Fabian Kale (Hon CBR600RR); 3. Art Fonseca (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Benjamin Gooding (Duc 749S); 5. Steve Ebeling (Suz GSX-R1000); 6. Will Boldt (Suz GSX-R600).

FORMULA 40 LIGHTWEIGHT EXPERT: 1. Bill Erzal (Suz GSX-R600); 2. Shawn Adams (Suz SV650); 3. Steven Isenhower (Hon CBR600F3); 4. Danny Dominguez (Suz SV650); 5. Jim Whitten (Duc 1000S); 6. David Canzoneri (Suz SV650).

FORMULA 40 LIGHTWEIGHT NOVICE: 1. Patrick Kelly (Suz GSX-R600); 2. Steve Wilson (Suz SV650); 3. Juan DeHoyos (Suz SV650); 4. Frank Rodriguez (Suz SV650); 5. Joseph Buno (Suz SV650); 6. Billy Hinojosa (Apr RS250).

MOTARD: 1. Robert Bradlaw (Hon CRF450); 2. Greg Phillips (KTM SMR560); 3. Drake Duncan (Hon CRF450); 4. Wil Kitchens (Apr SXV450); 5. John Barsic (Hon CRF450); 6. Dave Gallagher (Yam WR450).

CLASSIC: 1. Darrell Ricks (Suz TLR1000); 2. Danny Dominguez (Kaw ZX-7R); 3. Bill Erzal (Suz GSX-R600); 4. Steven Isenhower (Hon CBR600F3); 5. Patrick Kelly (Suz GSX-R600); 6. Marc LaNoue (TriBon 750).

MODERN CLASSIC: 1. Darrell Ricks (Suz TLR1000); 2. Ted Phillips (Apr RSV1000); 3. Andy Gilliland (Kaw ZX-6R); 4. Josh Henke (Suz SV650); 5. Andrew Sukach (Suz SV650); 6. Brian Carter (Yam YZF R1).

CLUBMAN: 1. Jesse Davis (Duc 796); 2. Ryan Ambrose (Tri Bon 750); 3. Jerrett Martin (Tri Bon 750); 4. Wyatt Sperry (Hon RS80); 5. Jay Newton (Hon CBR250R); 6. Marc LaNoue (Tri Bon 750).

ROOKIE EXPERT HEAVYWEIGHT: 1. Yahir Sanchez (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Jose Silva (Kaw ZX-10R); 3. Guillermo A. Gonzalez (Yam YZF-R1); 4. Mark Windham (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Matt Vastine (Suz GSX-R750); 6. Ryan Max Johnson (Suz GSX-R600).

ROOKIE EXPERT LIGHTWEIGHT: 1. Eric Williams (Suz SV650); 2. Josh Henke (Suz SV650); 3. David Canzoneri (Suz SV650); 4. Darrell Emerson (Suz SV650); 5. Karl Hansen (Hon CR600); 6. David Tipton (KTM 690).

NORTH TEXAS SUPERBIKES FORMULA 1 LADIES: 1. Jane Ryder (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Lisa Posevina (Kaw ZX-6R); 3. Theressa Riggs (Hon CBR600RR); 4. Sheila Paul (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Daisy DeSimone (Suz GSX-R750).

ROAD & TRACK SUSPENSION FORMULA 4: 1. Brandon Altmeyer (Kaw EX250); 2. Barry Hobbs (Mori 80); 3. Brian Millsap (Kaw EX250); 4. Kyle Diffley (Kaw EX250); 5. Jay Newton (Hon CBR250R); 6. Brendan Diffley (Hon RS85).

ONROAD OFFROAD SUSPENSION SOLO 30 – FORMULA 5: 1. Nick Doolan (Hon RS65); 2. Lee Henry (Hon CRF150); 3. Ryan Warren (KTM 65).

SOLO 30 – FORMULA 6: 1. Lindsey Leard (Yam TTR125); 2. Collin Schultz (Hon NSF100).

SOLO 30 – FORMULA 7: 1. Barry Hobbs (Hon XR100).

CMRA 4-HOUR BIG BIKE ENDURANCE: 1. Team SCRaceCenter.com KTM Racing (Ty Howard/Bryan West/Ryan Andrews), KTM RC8, A Superbike, 111 laps; 2. Team EDS (Michael Humphries/Alan Phillips/Shane Zelm/Scott Eichhorn/Darrell Ricks), Suz SV650, Formula 2, 105 laps; 3. Team Penetration (Nathaniel Orona/Joseph McCamish/Mark Delano), Yam YZF-R6, C Superbike, 103 laps; 4. NORDCO Racing (Todd Larson/Brandon Young/Michael Rochester), Yam YZF-R1, A Superbike, 103 laps; 5. Village Idiots (John Orchard/Chris Headley/Blake Cochran/Brandon Cleland), Yam YZF-R6, C Superbike, 102 laps; 6. 212Decals.com (Dirk Anderson/William Guthrie), Suz GSX-R1000, A Superbike, 102 laps.

CMRA 2-HOUR MINI ENDURANCE: 1. Supafly Racing (Ryan Warren/Eric Williams), Yam RS85, Formula 4, 62 laps; 2. Davis Rod and Cycle (Jesse Davis/Ryan Andrews), Hon CBR250R, Formual 4, 61 laps; 3. Underground Minis (John Black/Dustin Sperry), Mori 80, Formula 4, 60 laps; 4. RyderHard Racing (Jane Ryder/Ken Ryder), Kaw EX250, Formula 4, 57 laps; 5. Chaos Racing (Randall Joy/Clint Summers/Brian Millsap/Patt Hagens), Kaw EX250, Formula 4, 56 laps; 6. Green Machine (David Tiede/Ulug Bayramoglu), Kaw EX250, Formula 4, 56 laps.